Flanged joint



H. L. GUY

FLANGED JOINT Aug. 7, 1934.

Filed Dgo. l2, 1931 @L FvmLblEbL MJ Q ...Lw m6; @Lg 9 t WT A H .m .D

Patented ug. 7, 1934 i AUNITED STATES PATENT orsi-CE 'York Application December 12,1931, Serial No. 580,695 In Great Britain December 19, 1930 3 claims. (c1. 25e- 39)v This invention relates to flanged joints in which external flanges forming a joint connecting two portions of asteam cylinder or steam pipe or other receptacle for containing fluid or substance at a comparatively high temperature are held together by means of bolts.

In flanged joints of the character above indicated, when fluid, .steam for example, at a high temperature is rst admitted into the receptacle', the temperature of the inside of the receptacle rises more or less rapidly to a maximum temperature. The rise of temperature in the flanges takes place more slowly and the rise of temperature in the bolts holding the flanges together takes place more slowly still, but at the end of a certainV time these parts will attain maximum constant temperatures which will, of course, be different for each part. The difference of` temperature between the boltsand the anges and therefore the'. stress in the bolts resulting from such difference in temperature will bea maximum at some time while the temperature is still rising vand will gradually be reduced. as the temperature in these parts rises to its maximum.

It wouldV be advantageous duringthis phase of the operation if theptemperature difference between the bolts and the inside of the flanges, Apipes or Vessels were reduced by reducing this temperature difference, or by raising theA temperature of the bolt itself.

The resistance of a bolt to creep is, however, greater the lower the temperature, and consequently it would be advantageous if the maximum temperature to which the bolt rises were reduced at the maximum temperature reached by the parts, provided the difference of temperature between the bolt and the flanges at this'temperature is such thatv the stress in the bolt is not increased beyond the maximumv Value permissible 'at that temperature.

Thefobject of my invention is an improved construction for flanged joints and like members fastened together whereby the temperature diierences of the parts forming the joint are reduced or equalized and the creeping of the bolts substantially prevented.

According to the present invention, in a joint of the kind such as above described, a hole is formed axially through each bolt and means are provided for causing a circulation of gas or vapor through the bolt so as to control the temperature thereof as desired. For example, at starting up, Ithe stress in the bolts and flanges can be reduced if the difference of temperature between the bolts and the inside ofthe flanges is reducedwhich may be accomplished by heating the bolts by circulating `hotair or vapor such as steam through them during the initial period when the' boltsv and flanges are rising in temperature. The increase in temperature .in the bolts will therefore take G0 place at agreater rate than .would otherwise be the case with the result that the maximum difference oftemperature'between the bolts and the flanges will be reduced.` v

Ifon the other'ha'nd it is vdesired to lower the maximum temperature which the bolts attain the bolts may bev cooled by circulating through them air or Vapor at a suitable temperature. The cooling, howevenshould be regulated so that too great a reduction in temperature shall not take place. whichwouldunduly .increase the diierence of temperature between the bolts and the flanges. y

In a simple embodiment the bolts may be Acooled .by thel natural draught 'obtained by fitting a tube ortubes o fa suitable length into the ends of one or both ofthe nuts or bolts.V In this way the draught. created varies withl the temperature of the bolt. and a change in temperature of the right character is obtained. A higher degree of cooling may beY obtained-by circulating airv'oif other gas or vapor under 'pressure which is 4very often available. Aco'rnfenient source of pressure is the .Ventilating system used in electric generators when these 'arepresent Steam may be adva tageously employed as the circulating medium to'attainboth the results above indicated. For Aexamygile, stearn at a suitable ltemperature may be circulated through the bolts. duringthe starting period for the purpose ofheating the bolts and thus increasingthe rate of temperature risetherein. At a later period the temperature of the bolts will have risen by conduction yfromthe flanges above that of the circulating steam which will consequently then act to cool the bolts and reduce the .maximum temperature to which they attain.

To enable the invention to be clearly understood it willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawing 'in which Fig. 1 is a temperature diagram, whilst Figs. Zand 3 are sectional Views through the flanged joints off a high pressure turbine cylinder showing two different means in accordancey with the invention for controlling the temperature ofthe bolts. y.Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the curves represent the temperature rises on different'parts with time, commencing from the .time when the steam is first admitted to the Vessel such asthe high pressure cylinder of aturb'ine until lf-' the parts reach a steady temperature. Curve OAB represents the steam temperature or more exactly the temperature of the inner surface of the vessel through which the steam flows. Curve OCD represents the temperature of the liange of the joint. Curve OEF represents thetemperature of the bolt in the joint when the latter is of the ordinary solid kind heretofore used, whilst curve OPQ represents the temperature of the bolt when cooled, in accordance with theV present invention, by circulating a medium through it at a temperature equal Vto or less than the initial temperature of the bolt, :whilst curveV l ORS represents the temperature of the bolt when a medium of moderate temperature is circulatedV through it. The steady temperature is supposed to be reached after a time Y. At or, (soon after a time X it will be seen that there is a maximum diierence of temperature represented approximately by CE between the flange and the solid bolt when also the mechanical stress will be about temperature difference DF such as to that represented by DQ or DS whilst it will not be desirable to increase appreciably the difference in temperature represented approximately by CE or CP at or soon after time X during starting up, since at such time the temperature difference is alreadivr x a maximum, but itmay be desirable to reduce the difference such as to about CR. In other words, it is desirable to reduce'the differences of the temperature-differences between the times'Xand Y. This is achieved, according to the present invention, by the provision of means which'cause a decrease of the final temperature' of the bolt/to the effect that the difference DF increases and becomes substantially equalvto the difference CE. The desired eiect may also be achieved by decreasing the intermediate temperature difference CE and increasing the ,final temperature difference DF. By intermediate temperature differences, I means the differences at any. time between the temperatures of the parts forming the iiange joint lfrom the beginning of the operation until the parts reach constant temperaturesV resulting in constant or final temperature differences between the different parts.l

Referring to Fig. '2, Where I have shown by way of example an arrangement embodying my invention, 1 represents a high pressure cylinder or conduit ofy a steam turbine surrounded'by lagging 2 in theusual manner and designates a bolt extending through openngs 4 in the flanges 5 .and 6 for fastening the flanges together by. means of nuts 7 provided on the screw-threaded ends of the bolt. The bolt 3 according to my invention is provided with an axial bore 8 extending fromA end to end of the bolt. Fastened to the nuts are Atubular members 4or tubes 9 and lresp'ectively extending through the lagging and registering with the bore of the bolt and defining an extension of the hollow space of the bolt. The arrangement is such that thev desired temperature is automatically .obtained ,by a natural air owthrough the tubes and the bolt. It will be readily understood that as soon as the bolt is heated during the operation, the air in the hollow space of the bolt will be heated accordingly and this will cause a natural draught whereby heated air rises and escapesV through tube 10 and fresh cooling air is supplied through tube 9 as-indicated byarrows. This causes a decrease of the final temperature of the. bolt whereby the final temperature difference DF in Fig. 1 is increased to DQ which is of theY order of the intermediate temperature difference CPat the time X. In Fig. 3 1 have shown an `arrangement for sup plying a ycooling or. heating medium through the bolt. 12 represents `a. portion of a high pressure cylinder or conduit of a steam turbine surrounded by lagging v13, similar uto the arrangement shown in Fig, 1. Flanges`14 and 15 are fastened together by means of a hollow bolt 16 provided with nuts 17. 18 designates a tube fastened to the upper nut 17 and defining anextension or the hollow space of the bolt'. Coolingor heating fluid is supplied to lthe bolt 'from amanifold l19A which is connected to the bolt by means of a conduit 20.

The temperature of thefluid supplied from manifold 19 vthrough the hollow bolt is lpreferablj'f intermediate the temperature ofV the fluid passed through conduit 12 and the temperature o f the atmosphere, that is, if, for instance, an elastic uid of 1200 F. is conveyed throughfconduitj 12l it will be preferable tosupply a heating and cool- In this manner we obtain the course of tem-l perature of the boit whichis indicated byjthle curve OES in Fig. l.

In some cases it may be desirable to introduce i thel tenriperature-controlling medium to vthe `'bolt approximately'in the center of the latter in order to reduce the difference between the average V,and maximum temperatueuof the bolt."For this purpose conduit 2.0 of Fig. 3 has been extended as indicated at 21. The hea'tir'ig andfcooling ymedium supplied through. conduit 2.0 and 21'I escapes through Iconduit 18 into the atmosphereor it may also be returned by suitable means, not shown,v to its source of supply.` y

Having describedmy invention, Atogether with f the apparatus which I now Consider 15e-represent' the best embodiment thereof, I desire tol have; it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyil.- lustrative and that the invention may be 'carried out by other means.

What I claim as new'and desire to secure by YLetters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. The combination with `a heated conduit through which a hot substance is conveyed and which is provided with a flanged joint having a hollow bolt for fastening.F the flanges together, of means including another conduit connected to the hollow bolt, a uid'having a temperature in'- `termediate that of the substance andthe surrounding atmosphere containedin the .other conf duit and the hollow bolt to decrease the difference between the intermediate and'nal temperature differencesof the bolt and thev adjacent parts.

2. The combination with aflanged joint subject -to heat and'having a'hollowzboltfor fasleh-` "Y 'izo ing the anges together, of ,9. tubular 'member having one end fastened to one end offthe bolt and another end communicating with the atmosphere to dene an'A extensionof -the'hollow space the bolt whereby a more uniform heating land cooling of the bolt is obtained.

of the bolt whereby heating of the bolt causes a natural draught of cooling air through the bolt and the tubular member.

HENRY L. GUY. 

